might have to give up celi, need cheap alternative

[Hepnotic]

I had to stop working because of medical conditions. I dont know if im gonna be able to keep up w/ payments. Disability doesnt pay that much, so I might have to get a cheaper car.

I'd like to spend around 4-10k. Something that is pretty dependable, but I can progressively make into a sleeper.

I was thinking about a 94 sentra se-r, maybe an eagle talon, a civic hatch (too common though), or maybe an old Z, im not sure.

Please offer suggestions.

Thanks.

[2002GT_Celica]

I would go with the old Z, but that is just me.

[msilvia]

Get a 240SX. RWD, near perfect weight balance, great suspension, etc. Extremely fun stock, and can be made very quick via several different paths.

You can buy a 91-93 DOHC version in great condition for around $3-4k. If you still have extra cash to spend, you can buy imported RWD SR20DET's from the car's japanese counterpart for an engine swap. From that point the car gets as easy as a turbo DSM (another alternative) to make insanely fast. But there's just about no other substitute for cheap IRS RWD fun.

They're getting a bit trendy unfortunately, but keep it stock looking and you'd have a great sleeper.

Or you could get a newer S14 version for ~5-10k. They were a bit less sport-oriented, but have equal potential.

Old Z's rock too. Which one?

[larryd]

my personal opinion of a sleeper car thats cheap and can be made really quick is a civic hatch.. if anything ever happens to the Eclipse i might look that way

[Hepnotic]

Originally posted by msilvia
Get a 240SX. RWD, near perfect weight balance, great suspension, etc. Extremely fun stock, and can be made very quick via several different paths.

You can buy a 91-93 DOHC version in great condition for around $3-4k. If you still have extra cash to spend, you can buy imported RWD SR20DET's from the car's japanese counterpart for an engine swap. From that point the car gets as easy as a turbo DSM (another alternative) to make insanely fast. But there's just about no other substitute for cheap IRS RWD fun.

They're getting a bit trendy unfortunately, but keep it stock looking and you'd have a great sleeper.

Or you could get a newer S14 version for ~5-10k. They were a bit less sport-oriented, but have equal potential.

Old Z's rock too. Which one?

What do 240SX's run stock, and how fast would it run with the engine swap. Also, are there bolt on kits available for it?

I was looking at the early 80s 280ZX's

[Hepnotic]

Originally posted by larryd
my personal opinion of a sleeper car thats cheap and can be made really quick is a civic hatch.. if anything ever happens to the Eclipse i might look that way

Could be nice. I might look that way. But im 6'1, i dunno how well i'd fit in one. My friend had an 11 second hatch, it got rubber in every gear. I guess that wasnt fast enough so he got a top of the line sport bike.

Im just wondering what they do about torque steer. They run such fast times, but with fwd on street tires... how?

[pinoyracer]

If ur looking for an affordable new car, u could always go for the new Matrix or the Corolla Type S, if ur looking for a used car, hmmmm 95 or newer model MR2 or the 95 Civic hatchback

[msilvia]

I think stock 240's generally run ~mid 15s stock. They weighed ~2700 lbs and put out 155hp/160lbft after '91, so they were never very impressive straightline cars.

Swap the engine and I think you'd see ~mid 14s, which would drop like a rock after you start playing w/ the boost & such. Most people don't swap an entirely stock setup, so it's hard to say exactly.

Think there are one or two bolt ons, and a lot of people doing custom turbos on the stock KA24.

[SlasherX]

get a pinto and drop a 351 into it. :D

[jotan82]

i say a 1st gen eclipse/talon AWD turbo...

holy cow are these cars sleepers!

[PapiChuu]

id stick with the nissans pick up a cheap 240 or se-r drop a sr20det in it and ull be running about mid 13s on stock boost levels

[MarkyMark]

cheap alternative = civic :D

[Zorn]

Older Corolla S in your price range - save to mod!

[jotan82]

a 1st gen eclipse you can pick up for 2-4 g's and put it in 12's in NO time

[David Draper]

Originally posted by SlasherX
get a pinto and drop a 351 into it. :D

*TRUE STORY*

My parents had an old Pinto when I was little, which I really hated...every turn the seat belt warning buzzer would go off, even with them all plugged in...

Well anyway, couldn't wait to get rid of the thing, so they ended up selling it for like $1000.

About 2-3 months later, I see this thing scream by with the back all lifted up with some kind of motor BRAAPPPPing down the road....

I know, who gives a...., but I thought Dave might find it interesting....

[Dealer Xing]

I have a rare Subaru Legacy Turbo 4WD 1993 after I sold my Celica. Now I can sink my money into other hobbies besides a real car. Talking about sleeper, this is a perfect one. 4WD, rare, Turbo 2.2L, sits 5 comfortably, LSD, cheap insurance, 4 wheel vented discs, etc........ This car can accept a lot of WRX parts and mods too, the tranny/clutch and some suspension parts are very close or same as a WRX.

http://www.xmission.com/~dac/mylegacy.htm

Other alternatives:
Sentra/200SX with SR20DE engine.
240SX
Base model Integra of all years and turbo it.

[Quakey]

hey i've been looking for a mica blue 2001 GTS7speed for so long and i can't find any! are u willing to sell it to me? man, but u r in orange county and i'm in san francisco bay area...possible to work that out? how much is it gonna cost to truck the car to the bay area? anyway, please contact me if you want to talk about it. thank you.
Originally posted by Hepnotic
I had to stop working because of medical conditions. I dont know if im gonna be able to keep up w/ payments. Disability doesnt pay that much, so I might have to get a cheaper car.

I'd like to spend around 4-10k. Something that is pretty dependable, but I can progressively make into a sleeper.

I was thinking about a 94 sentra se-r, maybe an eagle talon, a civic hatch (too common though), or maybe an old Z, im not sure.

Please offer suggestions.

Thanks.

[Willis5050]

Get an SE-R, I love mine (it's for sale too, but kinda far from you), and it has been the most dependible car I have ever owned. SR20DE, disc brakes, LSD (!!), and a pretty good suspension setup. A lot of people like the classic se-r's but I found they were getting a little too old for my taste (outdated styling, more miles, more rattles, some are geting rust) so I got the newer version. Plus I like the power windows/locks/mirrors and other creature comforts that come with it. Easily in the 14s with bolt-ons, and drop a SR20DET in and it's a whole new ballgame. For comparison purposes mine 95 is for sale for about $4500 and has 103K on it now. You should be able to find similar deals around. Give the SE-R a look. If you go for the classic, don't get the 94 because it has a bit milder engine in comparison to the 91-93 (low port head compared to high port head). For the 200sx the best years are 95-97, although the earlier the better.

[Smaay]

Get an 85 RX-7 with the 13B motor..make sure it has teh 6 ports..you will love it...i paid 2K for mine...im sure you can find one just as nice for the same price...mine was a GSL-SE...

[The Game]

Yeah, I'd go with a 13B RX-7 as well!

[SlasherX]

Originally posted by David Draper


*TRUE STORY*

My parents had an old Pinto when I was little, which I really hated...every turn the seat belt warning buzzer would go off, even with them all plugged in...

Well anyway, couldn't wait to get rid of the thing, so they ended up selling it for like $1000.

About 2-3 months later, I see this thing scream by with the back all lifted up with some kind of motor BRAAPPPPing down the road....

I know, who gives a...., but I thought Dave might find it interesting....

LOL..reason i mentioned that was..

friend of mine bought some POS pinto shell for like $50..he then dropped in a 302 (the 5.0) into it. in order to make the car handle at our autocrosses he chained down the stock springs(talk about redneck engineering) and then threw some slicks at teh car.

damned thign was FAST AS ALL HELL....it was disgusting, he ended up blowing out the LSD in the rear dif and just letting the car sit and collect dust.

he had many many fun doughnuts in tht thing..sad to see a pinto whup the hell out of my Stang liek that, but hey...

:)

[SC3]

94 Eagle Talon AWD

-SC3

[PaCelicaGTS]

or I'd go with an early 90's Mitsu Galant VR4 insurance is cheaper than the eclipse b/c its a 4 door but it doesnt weigh much more AND most mods that you can do to a GSX you can do to the GVR4

[ghostface]

a VW corrado..VR6 ...this car can probably be found for around maybe 10,000 or less and it is badass stock..as soon as u styart modding them they turn into monsters...i never mess with any corrado i see..

Ghost